The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1887-06-08

uech III WIN all tne uHeTy possi-
BILE. all 1t is a female that has died her
cheeks are heavily rouged, and If the de-
ceased in life was not the owner of suffi-
cient jewelry to decorate her remains
with, friends and relatives are called
upon to furnish the desired amount. 70
If the weather is favorable the body is
laid out on table that is placed in
street or alley adjoining the late resi-
dence of the deceased, but covered from
sight with large white cloth. Next to
the table holding the deceased is another
table covered with meat, candies, pre-
served cocoanut and ginger, together
with liberal supply of Chinese wine
and brandy.
Among the funeral meats will always
be found a pig or hog roasted whole,
the size of the porcine offering being
graded according to the age of the de-
ceased.
AS soon as the body and feast are laid
out in state, the serious work of the pro-
fessional mourners commences. The
number Of mourners varies according to
the social standing of the deceased In
life.from six to ten being the average
for an adult.
The mourners are dressed from head
to foot in white--the face and head being
hid from sight by sort of hood, so that
one cannot tell whether the mourners
are male OF female.
The first move is to gather round the
bier and chant niournful dirge, not for
getting to extol the many virtues of the
departed During this time they are con-
stantly moving around in a circle to pre-
vent any evil spirit from creeping in and
so getting possession of the body.
As soon as the dirge is over the
musicians commence beating the gongs,
eymbals and tom-toms, the mourners
at the same time giving vent to groans,
| screeches and bowls, varying the pro-
ceedings by beating themselves and
Others with clenched fists, pulling their
hair and knocking their heads against
the adjoining building. They keep this
up until they work themselves into
perfect state of frenzy, and together with
the musicians make such an uproar
that one would think that pande-
monium had broken loose.
The object of beating the gongs, ETC., is
to brighten the devils away. In the mean
time, every two or three minutes, hand
fuls Of small pieces of paper are thrown
in the air, over the body of the deceased,
so that if by any chance some of the
devils should get by the musicians and
no Phi ,ad hx,
the pieces of paper, as they are supposed
to represent so many good spirits.
Then Joss sticks, punk and incense are
kept burning. The mourning and racket
last for at least twenty-four hours.
The morning of the funeral the body
is taken from the bier, and after being
stripped of the ornaments and other
finery is placed in coffin. A piece of
money is placed in the hands of the de-
ceased, written prayer or charm is
put in the mouth, and a bottle of wine OF
brandy, together with liberal allowance
of food, is also inclosed in the coffin.
Then an express wagon is obtained and
the food and liquor are placed in
the wagon, and two or more men are
continually throwing joss papers in the
air until their burying ground is
reached Second in the line of the pro-
cession is wagon filled with the hired
mourners, then the relatives and friends
follow, the deceased bringing up the rear,
with the exception of two men who are
detailed to follow behind and scatter joss
papers.
When the grave is reached the real
agony begins. The mourners redoublt
their efforts, and the musicians beat theil
gongs, etc., with all the power possible
The coffin is lowered into the grave
another piece of money is placed on til,
top of the coffin and the grave filed up
The money is for the purpose of paying
the god of waters for rowing the dc
ceased across the dark waters. II is sup
posed that the god of waters will be sat
istied by merely seeing the money in thC
hands of the deceased.
The money on top the coffin is for the
benefit of the evil spirits. After the
grave is filled the eatables, sweetmeats
and liquor are placed it, as the mere
sight of the food viii appease the hun
ger of the gods.
The food does not remain at the grave
very long. The morning after anyone
is allowed to take it away, as the spirits
are supposed to have satisfied their hun
ger during the night, so at sunrise the
next morning there are generally plenty
of impecunious Chinese who are glad to
avail themselves of the food of the gods,
as they call it. G. L. GoRDoN.t